190 CLASS III.— ORDER II. 



The Antipathes vary much in form, some ex- 

 hibiting a simple stem without the slightest appear- 

 ance of ramification, whilst others branch to infi- 

 nity, and the branches anastomose like those of the 

 Gorgoneajlabella ; all the intermediates between these 

 two extremes exist in the various species of this ge- 

 nus, which I believe to be naturally numerous, though 

 former authors have noticed but a small number. 



The colour of the Antipathes is but little known, as 

 their gelatinous and slippery exterior almost wholly 

 disappears on desiccation ; the axe or interior, which 

 alone remains, exhibits various shades of brown or 

 fawn, from the brightest to the darkest hue. 



They vary much in size ; for whilst some scarcely 

 reach to the height of a decimetre, we find others that 

 measure two complete metres. 



They are found in the temperate and equatorial re- 

 gions, but appear more abundant in the warmer cli- 

 mates. 



According to Rumphius, the Indian nations make 

 use of the stems of the Antipathes for divination 

 wands, or talismans, which are supposed to resist the 

 power of the enchanter. The sceptres of the Indian 

 princes are sometimes made of this Polypidom, as 

 are also the beads used by the superstitious Bramins 

 to count their prayers. 



SPIRAL. 



1. Antipathes spiralis. Stem simple and spiraL 

 Var. B. Very long, and vsimply undulated. 

 Mediterranean ; and seas of Norway and India. 



